Communications Manager

This is a hands-on communications role at an important time for GBSS. You will help us plan, write and deliver clear, compassionate communications that make a real difference for babies and families. Later this year, the results of the GBS3 trial are expected, with a likely UK NSC review to follow. This represents a significant opportunity to influence policy, improve care, and help prevent group B Strep infection in babies. We are looking for an excellent communicator who can bring people and plans together, write well, keep work moving, and turn complex information into communications people can understand and use.

To help GBSS communicate clearly and confidently, through communications that are well planned, well written and delivered effectively.

• Write and edit key communications
• Hold communications plans for major campaigns and projects, working closely with the CEO and colleagues
• Bring together communications across advocacy, fundraising, support services and digital
• Line manage the Digital Content Specialist
• Keep communications projects moving and delivered to a high standard

This role sits at the centre of a small team. It will suit someone who enjoys being hands-on and is happy to move between planning, writing, editing, coordinating and problem-solving as priorities change. The postholder will be expected to draft a significant proportion of GBSS's core communications content themselves.

Key Responsibilities

1. Communications planning and coordination
   • Hold communications plans for major campaigns and projects, working closely with the CEO and colleagues to agree priorities, timings and outputs.
   • Translate organisational priorities into clear communications actions and timelines, working with subject leads where needed.
   • Manage communications workflows, deadlines and approvals.
   • Use trustee and external advisers’ expertise as a helpful sounding board where appropriate.
2. Writing and content development
   • Act as the lead writer and editor for key communications, including blogs, newsletters, supporter communications, campaign materials, website content, organisational updates, briefings and stakeholder communications.
   • Edit and improve content produced by colleagues.
   • Make sure communications are clear, plain English, compassionate, inclusive, accessible and accurate.
   • Help translate complex clinical, policy and research information into communications that non-specialists can understand.
   • Work from agreed policy positions and specialist input when drafting briefings, consultation-related materials or stakeholder communications.
3. Campaign delivery
   • Coordinate communications for major campaigns and projects, including GBS Awareness Week.
   • Work with colleagues to agree objectives, audiences, messages, outputs and timelines.
   • Work with the Fundraising Manager on supporter communications, helping with copy, timing and consistency.
   • Help paid activity fit well with wider campaign messaging.
   • Keep campaign delivery on track and support evaluation and learning.
4. Messaging and consistency
   • Help develop and maintain clear organisational messages.
   • Help communications across channels fit together.
   • Support colleagues to communicate sensitive or complex issues clearly.
5. Digital content leadership and line management
   • Work closely with the Digital Content Specialist to agree priorities, plan content and support high-quality delivery across digital channels.
   • Line manage the role, including regular feedback, support and development.
   • Look at what is working across digital channels and use that insight to improve future content.
6. Media support
   • This role will support media activity through practical communications planning, drafting and follow-up.
   • Drafting briefing materials, background notes, key messages and approved lines
   • Coordinating communications around media activity
   • Helping make sure follow-up content is delivered across relevant channels
7. Insight and continuous improvement
   • Work with information and support colleagues to understand what families and professionals are asking and where communications could be clearer.
   • Use audience insight, communications data and campaign results to improve future activity.
   • Identify practical ways to improve communications processes.

Person Specification

Essential

• Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Experience creating content across multiple communications channels.
• Experience planning and delivering communications projects or campaigns.
• Ability to explain complex, technical or evidence-based information clearly and accurately.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
• Good judgement and sensitivity when communicating about emotionally complex, potentially distressing or sensitive issues.
• Experience supporting, guiding or managing others, whether colleagues, freelancers or suppliers.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a small organisation, including with senior colleagues and subject matter experts.

Desirable

• Experience in charity, health, policy, public affairs or another setting where complex or evidence-based information needs to be communicated clearly.
• Experience communicating about maternity, newborn care, patient safety, bereavement or similarly sensitive issues.
• Experience working with websites, email marketing systems and social media platforms.
• Understanding of accessibility, plain English and inclusive communications.

What you’ll help us achieve

You’ll help GBSS communicate more clearly, plan further ahead and deliver key campaigns well.

Interviews

Interviews will be held between 17 and 20 August 2026.

First-stage interview – conducted via Microsoft Teams.

Second-stage interview – held in person.